Pettiford going back to Auburn after evaluating draft

• Jonathan GivonyMay 28, 2025, 02:51 PM ET

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  NBA draft expert and author
  Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
  Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups

Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford will withdraw from the 2025 NBA draft and return to the Tigers for his sophomore season, he informed ESPN on Wednesday.

“I mored than happy to go through the procedure, getting feedback from NBA groups,” Pettiford told ESPN. “Returning to Auburn is a better circumstance for me. I see myself being a greater choice next year. It wasn’t 100% this year, so I didn’t want to take that possibility.

“Being a short guard, it won’t be easy to play in the league, but I know I can do it. It’s maybe not the correct time.”

Pettiford, who was the No. 35 prospect in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings, had a strong proving at the draft combine, consisting of a 23-point, 8-assist, 2-steal performance in the opening skirmish. He drew considerable interest from groups choosing in the first round, performing six specific workouts with teams, and will enter next season as a predicted first-round pick in the 2026 draft.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated The 6-foot-1 guard ultimately chosen to return to the certainty of a leading function for an Auburn group that made the Final Four last season. He balanced 11.6 points and 3.0 helps in 22.9 minutes per game and made an area on the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.”I plan on putting all the tools that groups informed me to work on together and get better total,”Pettiford stated.”Returning to Auburn and attempting to win another championship, do what we did this year. “Pettiford, 19, ranked initially on the Tigers in helps and third in scoring, despite ending up sixth in minutes played, which helped him carve out a strong function on a deep, seasoned squad that began 5 players ages 22 to 25. Pettiford’s late-game heroics coming

off the bench assisted move Auburn to the No. 1 total seed in the NCAA tournament. He then posted 23 points versus Creighton in the second round and 20 points versus Michigan in the Sugary food 16. After losing the whole roster outside of Pettiford to graduation or the transfer website, Auburn will look significantly various next season. However the Tigers have drawn in several crucial finalizings that need to have coach Bruce Pearl’s squad right back in the mix for SEC championship contention.UCF power forward Keyshawn Hall, Mississippi State big man KeShawn Murphy, Texas Tech wing Kevin Overton, Department II wing transfer Elyjah Freeman and juco forward Abdul Bashir will all likely be essential rotational players, in addition to top-50 high school recruits Kaden Magwood and Sebastian Williams-Adams. Also on Wednesday, Pearl got a dedication from Filip Jovic of Mega SuperBet in the Adriatic League.

The 6-9 Serbian big male posted 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22 minutes per game this season and will bring a knowledgeable, physical existence that needs to enable him to make an immediate contribution in the SEC.The NCAA due date for players to withdraw from the NBA draft and maintain college eligibility is 11:59 p.m. ET.

Wednesday.Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private hunting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and global groups.